Daimler Double Six Coupe

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The XJC was short-lived for a number of reasons. It was unveiled to an admiring public in 1973, but it was not until 1975 that it entered series production.

Its elegant pillarless design looked a million dollars, but the absence of 'B' pillars caused the engineers serious headaches when it came to wind noise and water ingress, hence the delay in development. It was also fearsomely expensive to build because despite the carry over of many of the components from the fabulous XJ6 saloon, many of them needed extensive modification, mostly by hand – the long doors were made from two saloon frames welded together. This extra cost was reflected in the price.

Towards the end of its short life, it also found itself up against the new XJS and while the Coupe had the attraction of larger rear seats, the XJS rather stole the limelight. There were two engine options - a 4.2-litre version of the ubiquitous DOHC XK unit and the 5.3-litre V12 that produced some 285bhp at 5,750 rpm. This was sufficient to whisk the smoothly sprung Coupe to 60mph in 7.6 seconds and on to a top speed of around 150mph. The engine was mated to an automatic gearbox - initially the Borg Warner Model 12, later replaced by the GM Model 400 Hydramatic unit.

Suspension was independent all round with wishbones and coil springs at the front and wishbones, radius arms and coil springs at the rear. Braking was by discs all round and steering by rack and pinion. Around 20% of all XJCs built were badged as Daimlers, with just 407 delivered as the Double Six V12 (only 372 in RHD) making this car a rare beast indeed.

As the accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms, this Double Six Coupe was manufactured in January 1976 and was supplied via Henlys of Chester to its first owner in the sizzling hot August of that year. Silver Grey with a black vinyl roof and a rare Ebony velour interior, it has covered some 90,600 miles to date in the hands of just five owners with many old MOTs, service stamps and invoices to warrant this mileage.

Extensively restored about 25 years ago, the car has only covered around 2,000 fine weather miles since and has been kept garaged when not in use, hence the good state of preservation today. It has also just been fitted with new rear brake discs which is no small job! Said to drive as it should with an MOT until April 2017 with no advisories recorded, this rare and potent Daimler can still show a clean pair of heels to most other cars on the road and would sit well in any collection.